NEW DELHI: India chipped away at America’s diplomatic perks Wednesday, ordering the envoys to obey local traffic laws and warning that a popular US Embassy club violates diplomatic law because it is open to outsiders.

The move was the latest in a campaign to exert pressure on the US following the arrest and strip search last month of Devyani Khobragade, an Indian diplomat based in New York City. Indian officials have called the strip search barbaric and unnecessary.

Khobragade, 39, is accused of paying her Indian maid less than the US minimum wage and lying about it on a visa application. She pleaded not guilty to fraud charges and is free on bail.

The case has caused an outcry in India, where the idea of an educated, middle class woman facing a strip search is seen as outrageous and heavy-handed. India has unleashed a steady stream of retaliatory measures. Some of the moves, such as preventing the American Center from screening movies, are seen as little more than needling the US.

But other actions have raised some alarm, including the removal of concrete traffic barriers around the US Embassy and revoking diplomats’ ID cards.

On Wednesday, the PTI news agency reported that India ordered the US to stop all “commercial activities” by Jan. 16 at the American Community Support Association club. The club has a restaurant, bar, bowling alley, swimming pool and other amenities.

India says the fact that non-diplomats can join the club, at a cost of more than $1,300 per year, violates the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

US Embassy officials had no comment. India’s Foreign Ministry said the government was waiting for a response from the United States.

Asked whether India would shut down the club if the US doesn’t comply, the ministry said it depends on what the US Embassy does next, adding that embassies anywhere in the world cannot engage in commercial activities.